Mel Schilling
Born
Melanie Jane Schilling

(1972-04-20)20 April 1972
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died 24 March 2026(2026-03-24) (aged 53)
London, England
Other names Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling
Alma mater Deakin University (BA)
University of Melbourne
Victoria University
Occupations
  • Television personality
  • relationships coach
Years active 1998–2026
Spouse
Gareth Brisbane
​
(m. 2018)​
Children 1

Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling (20 April 1972 – 24 March 2026) was an Australian television personality, psychologist and relationship coach, best known for appearing as one of the dating experts on the Nine Network reality series Married at First Sight from 2016 until her death in 2026.[1]

Early life

Melanie Jane Schilling was born on 20 April 1972 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Paul and Beth Schilling.[2][3] She also had a sister, Rebecca.[4]

She began her career in organizational psychology, attaining a BA in Psychology at Deakin University, as well as a Graduate Diploma at the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources and Industrial Relations at Victoria University.[5][6] She worked as a practicing psychologist for over 20 years. She moved to a senior role at Personnel Decisions International in 2001. She later worked as a consulting psychologist with Extraversion Consulting.[1]

Career

In 2005, Schilling appeared in an episode of the police drama series Blue Heelers and played a nurse in an episode of the Network 10 soap opera Neighbours in 2007.[7] Schilling began working for multinational and national consulting firms in which she specialised in behavioural assessment, leadership development and talent strategy. She later founded her own consultancy, coaching corporate and government clients across Australia and the Middle East. In 2013, she became the first Australian accredited by the International Dating Coaching Association, and was appointed Dating and Relationship Expert for the dating website eHarmony Australia in 2014, on which she had met her husband.[5][8]

In 2016, Schilling joined the Nine Network reality series Married at First Sight as one of the dating experts for its second series. She remained on the show for the next decade.[9]

Schilling lived in London and made several appearances on British television. Between 2021 and 2024, she made appearances as an expert on the British version of Married at First Sight. In 2023, she appeared as a contestant on an episode of the game show The Weakest Link, and in 2024, she appeared as one of the celebrity experts on The Wheel.[10][11] In 2026, she appeared on the game show Countdown in dictionary corner.[12]

Personal life

Schilling married Gareth Brisbane in 2018, after several years of dating.[13] Their daughter was born in November 2015 after they underwent IVF treatment.[14]

In December 2023, Schilling was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She was subsequently given the all clear; however, in February 2024, during a routine check-up, nodules were discovered in her lungs.[15] She underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy over the next two years.[16][17] In March 2026, Schilling announced that her cancer was terminal after it had metastasised to her lungs and the left side of her brain.[18] She died from complications of the illness in London, England, on 24 March 2026, aged 53.[19]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2005 Blue Heelers Tina the Cook Episode: "Night and Day" [7]
2007 Neighbours Nurse 1 episode [7]
2016–2026 Married at First Sight Herself Dating expert [20]
2021–2025 Married at First Sight UK Herself Dating expert [20]
2023–2024 This Morning Herself Guest; 2 episodes [21]
2023 The Weakest Link Herself Contestant; 1 episode [10]
2024 The Wheel Herself Celebrity expert; 1 episode [11]
2026 Countdown Herself Dictionary corner; 5 episodes [12]

References

  1. ^ a b Hams, Shari (25 March 2026). "Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling remembered as 'amazing' and 'radiant' after bowel cancer death". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  2. ^ Schilling, Mel. "THIS IS 49 💫 It's my birthday & I'm damn proud to share my age - 50 is 365 days away!". Instagram. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  3. ^ Moses, Claire (24 March 2026). "Mel Schilling, Dating Expert on 'Married at First Sight,' Dies at 53". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  4. ^ Hammond, Saoirse (12 March 2026). "Everything we know about MAFS expert Mel Schilling". WHO. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Mel Schilling | Champions Speakers". Champions Speakers. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  6. ^ Nhundu, Kimberly (15 October 2025). "MAFS UK experts' qualifications explained after couple tearfully quits". Bristol Live. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Who is MAFS Expert Mel Schilling? Age, net worth, health battle and husband revealed". Capital. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  8. ^ Burns, by Georgia (24 March 2026). "How MAFS' Mel Schilling met husband Gareth who called her his 'soulmate'". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Mel Schilling tributes flood in after MAFS expert dies aged 54 following cancer battle". Cosmopolitan. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b "BBC One - Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Series 5, Episode 8". BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Countdown: Series 2025, Episode 219". Channel 4. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Married At First Sight Mel Schilling's husband and children revealed". Heart. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  13. ^ Karasin, Ekin (24 March 2026). "Mel Schilling dies aged 54 after cancer battle as husband shares 'final moments'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Mel Schilling gives fans health update after devastating cancer diagnosis". Heart. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  15. ^ Karasin, Ekin (24 March 2026). "Mel Schilling's heartbreaking final post before her death". Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  16. ^ "MAFS expert Mel Schilling marks chemo milestone". Digital Spy. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Married at First Sight: Mel Schilling says her cancer has spread". BBC News. 12 March 2026. Archived from the original on 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Married at First Sight star Mel Schilling dies of cancer at 54". BBC News. 24 March 2026. Archived from the original on 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b Mensah, Katelyn. "Mel Schilling, MAFS legend and relationship expert, dies aged 54 | Radio Times". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  20. ^ Corbin, Tianna (24 March 2026). "This Morning fans 'so sad' as ITV show pays tribute to MAFS expert Mel Schilling". OK!. Retrieved 24 March 2026.